Challenges in social statistics

Abstract

The paper discusses some of the challenges which must currently be faced to improve the responsiveness of national statistical systems to emerging social behaviours. The focus is on the following areas: measurement of social outcomes, identification of new social actors such as new forms of families and households, measuring discrimination and extreme poverty. The paper advocates for a better understanding of how to define and measure social outcomes. It also highlights how new social behaviours and new policy requests are putting new demands on official statistics. For example, new information needs require the revision of the traditional concept of family and household, and data to measure discrimination and redefine the concept of poverty. The recommendations of the paper focus on the need to initiate a discussion among official statisticians on these topics at regional and international level, with the objective of improving the responsiveness of national statistical systems to these emerging needs.